Class blog for Anth 249: Evolution and human disease. We will be responding to class readings and engaging with the wider network of blogs and online content on evolutionary medicine. We might also make up some fun projects along the way.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Searcher Post in Response to Milk

In response to Manmit's post about milk
consumption in America, I thought she really struck home about modern society’s
obsession with milk consumption. When I think of my middle school cafeteria I
can only picture the walls adorned with “Got Milk?” posters and the faces of
famous athletes and stars donning the famous milk ‘stache. Not to mention, milk
was the only beverage offered besides water. So what is it with this milk
obsession? Is it really as healthy as we think it is?

While milk arguably has its benefits, Mark
Bittman persuades otherwise. –-And I think that I may agree. One point that has
always stood out to me about the unnaturalness of milk is the lack of milk
consumption after infancy in other species besides humans (especially the consumption
of milk produced another species.) Not shockingly, 50 million Americans are
lactose intolerant, with milk being the second most common food allergy after
peanuts. So although many modern humans have developed lactose persistence,
many still haven’t. This makes me wonder how the lactose persistence evolution
trend will continue.

Dairy is definitely a staple in the American
diet but studies prove it may not be a necessary staple. In fact, Vitamin D from
good old sunshine and some exercise seem much more responsible for healthy
bones than the calcium from fat rich milk. (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7115733/#.UQtB60pU5hM)
Bittman states that there is a correlation between Type I diabetes and prostate
cancer, although I could not find any other research supporting this. I do
believe that milk was likely a source for not only his heartburn but the acid
reflux of many Americans, due to the acidity of milk. From what I can tell, if
you like drinking milk, there is no harm. With that said, I also believe that
it definitely not as crucial to our health as we have been brainwashed to
believe.